Timnas Bosnia Pilih Salt Lake City Jadi Markas Piala Dunia 2026

Tim nasional sepak bola Bosnia dan Herzegovina resmi mengumumkan Kota Salt Lake City di Utah sebagai basis latihan serta kota penginapan mereka menjelang turnamen Piala Dunia 2026 di Amerika Serikat, Kanada, dan Meksiko.

Keputusan pemilihan lokasi ini diumumkan menjelang laga persahabatan melawan Makedonia Utara di Stadion Kosevo, Sarajevo, sebelum tim terbang ke Amerika Serikat untuk melakoni persiapan akhir.

Langkah penentuan markas ini dipandang emosional bagi komunitas diaspora karena gelombang pengungsi konflik Balkan tahun 1990-an banyak menetap di Utah, sehingga kehadiran tim nasional memicu antusiasme besar warga lokal.

Pelatih kiper Real Salt Lake, Mirza Harambasic, mengungkapkan bahwa pembicaraan mengenai potensi kehadiran pemenang babak playoff ini sudah bergulir di internal klub sejak awal.

"Yeah, it's a bit of a surreal moment," ujar Mirza Harambasic, Pelatih Kiper Real Salt Lake.

"We spoke about it at the club, that the winner of this playoff group was going to come and train here. I was optimistic, but tried not to be too optimistic to be let down. Then obviously when we beat Wales and then played against Italy, and finally won that game, being so excited that we made the World Cup, and then realizing, oh, they could train here. So I instantly texted Tony (Beltran, RSL's assistant sporting director). I was like, 'Tony, is it going to happen?' He was like, 'Yeah, it's going to happen.' So just obviously so excited, so ecstatic." kata Mirza Harambasic, Pelatih Kiper Real Salt Lake.

Asisten Direktur Olahraga Real Salt Lake, Tony Beltran, membenarkan adanya komunikasi intensif tersebut saat jalannya pertandingan penentu kelolosan Bosnia.

"It was during the game," kata Tony Beltran, Asisten Direktur Olahraga Real Salt Lake.

"I think everyone in the building, and I'm half Italian, was quietly rooting for Bosnia and Mirza to get it done. And Amer (Sasaivarevic) as well, who's also part of our first-team staff." ujar Tony Beltran, Asisten Direktur Olahraga Real Salt Lake.

Pihak klub merasa sangat bangga bisa menyambut tim nasional Bosnia dan menggunakan fasilitas olahraga mereka sebagai rumah sementara selama kompetisi tertinggi dunia tersebut berlangsung.

"To be able to host them and have that happen in our house, it's so cool," kata Tony Beltran, Asisten Direktur Olahraga Real Salt Lake.

"Super geeked." ujar Tony Beltran, Asisten Direktur Olahraga Real Salt Lake.

Bagi Harambasic, kehadiran skuad berjuluk Dragons ini menjadi momen penting agar anak-anaknya yang lahir di Amerika Serikat bisa menyaksikan langsung warisan budaya leluhur mereka.

"My little family is kind of a culmination of that as well," kata Mirza Harambasic, Pelatih Kiper Real Salt Lake.

"My two daughters are Salt Lake City-born, American-born, and my wife and I are Bosnian-born. For the national team to be here and for my daughters to experience something like that is incredible." ujar Mirza Harambasic, Pelatih Kiper Real Salt Lake.

Ketangguhan mental menjadi faktor utama yang dinilai berhasil membawa Bosnia kembali ke panggung dunia setelah terakhir kali berpartisipasi pada edisi 2014 silam.

"I think the word that stands out is resilience," kata Mirza Harambasic, Pelatih Kiper Real Salt Lake.

"Maybe we're not the most powerful footballing nation, but definitely one of the most resilient." ujar Mirza Harambasic, Pelatih Kiper Real Salt Lake.

Sementara itu, dukungan masif juga mengalir langsung dari dalam negeri, salah satunya melalui pemasangan papan reklame raksasa berukuran 17×9 meter di pemukiman Kozarac, Prijedor.

Donatur baliho tersebut, Enes Kahrimanovic, menegaskan aksi ini adalah bentuk apresiasi konkret untuk para pemain muda diaspora yang memilih membela panji negara.

"The dream I set for myself when we were making these big posters for our footballers, for our Dragons, is slowly coming true. Then the idea came to me: why don't we in Kozarac welcome our national team, our Dragons, our Barbarez, our Alajbegović, our Bajraktarević, our children -" kata Enes Kahrimanovic, Tokoh Masyarakat Kozarac.

Ia menyampaikan rasa terima kasih mendalam karena para pemain muda telah mengerahkan seluruh kemampuan terbaik di lapangan dan berharap komitmen serupa berlanjut di Kanada dan Amerika.

"Thank you, children, from the bottom of our hearts for agreeing to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina, for giving your all on the field. I hope it will be the same in Canada and America -" ujar Enes Kahrimanovic, Tokoh Masyarakat Kozarac.

Peran berani pelatih kepala juga mendapat pujian karena dinilai jeli melihat potensi besar dari generasi baru sepak bola Bosnia.

"Thank you Barbarez for seeing that youth is needed, that children who love this country should be given a chance -" kata Enes Kahrimanovic, Tokoh Masyarakat Kozarac.

Seluruh elemen masyarakat di Kozarac dipastikan bakal bersatu memberikan sokongan penuh dari berbagai tempat nonton bareng selama turnamen.

"We want to show that we, the people of Kozarac, support the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina with all our hearts at the World Cup. We will be with them here on the field, behind the school, in all the cafes and restaurants in Kozarac. Together we are stronger, go Dragons -" ujar Enes Kahrimanovic, Tokoh Masyarakat Kozarac.

Target tinggi bahkan dicanangkan oleh komunitas agar timnas mampu menembus babak semifinal dan bersua negara tetangga, Kroasia.

"Lots of heart, lots of desire, and good health to everyone. I hope for a semi-final with the "checkered ones", our neighbors who supported us greatly in the qualifying matches -" kata Enes Kahrimanovic, Tokoh Masyarakat Kozarac.

Ia juga menyempatkan diri memberi pesan hangat bagi negara-negara tetangga di kawasan Balkan yang belum berhasil lolos kualifikasi periode ini.

"Many greetings to our neighbors who did not make it this time, but I hope they will be at the World Cup next time. Since they have no one to cheer for, let them cheer for their neighbors, for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and we will cheer for everyone, left and right -" ujar Enes Kahrimanovic, Tokoh Masyarakat Kozarac.

Poster raksasa di Kozarac tersebut diklaim sebagai baliho ucapan selamat dan dukungan terbesar yang pernah didirikan di wilayah Bosnia dan Herzegovina.

"This is simply our gift to the Dragons and our support at the World Cup -" kata Enes Kahrimanovic, Tokoh Masyarakat Kozarac.

Di sisi lain, dari laporan nap.ba dalam konferensi pers resmi di Sarajevo, Pelatih Kepala Sergej Barbarez mengonfirmasi kondisi medis terkini para pemainnya menjelang laga uji coba.

"Just a quick update on the health status. Regarding Tabaković, I've already mentioned that there are no daily updates, we know we are on the right track and within the timeframe we set. He will join before the trip, but there is also an option for him to continue his treatment so that we are sure he is ready when he joins us," kata Sergej Barbarez, Pelatih Kepala Bosnia dan Herzegovina.

Pihak tim kepelatihan sengaja mengistirahatkan beberapa pilar utama seperti Edin Dzeko dan Ivan Sunjic demi menghindari risiko cedera otot yang lebih parah menjelang keberangkatan.

"As for Šunjić, it's the end of the season… A minor muscle injury in his leg, but he will return by the weekend and be ready. The situation with Ivan is not worrying. Edin has had a short break, more as a precautionary measure. It's better for them to rest now than when we get to America." ujar Sergej Barbarez, Pelatih Kepala Bosnia dan Herzegovina.

Terkait kekuatan lawan uji coba, Barbarez menolak meremehkan Makedonia Utara yang kini tengah membangun kekuatan di bawah nakhoda baru.

"If you are not serious, you shouldn't rank anyone. If you are not serious and don't take all tests seriously, you will lose every match. I don't like to belittle or categorize anyone, just as I don't like anyone to do that to us. They are a very serious opponent with a new coach, and this is certainly an important match for them, they will surely try to win, just like us." kata Sergej Barbarez, Pelatih Kepala Bosnia dan Herzegovina.

Laga persahabatan ini bakal difungsikan sebagai wadah eksperimen taktik serta rotasi pemain secara menyeluruh untuk mematangkan variasi strategi tim.

"You can't attack or defend for the entire 90 minutes. We will certainly work on both offense and defense. This match is an opportunity to see everything, to give everyone at least half a game, and that's the idea. To rest some players who have minor issues, not to risk them. The match is of a serious nature, there is no doubt about that." ujar Sergej Barbarez, Pelatih Kepala Bosnia dan Herzegovina.

Barbarez menekankan bahwa uji coba ini merupakan ujian watak yang krusial bagi seluruh pemain untuk membuktikan kelayakan mereka masuk ke dalam skuad inti.

"All the guys who play must give 100%; this is a match where character must be shown. No slacking, this is a test of character for them. There are some ideas, we will certainly try something different. We have already proven during matches that we can change things and that it's not that risky. The idea is to change the formation a bit and have a Plan B, nothing too special. As for Panama, that's the dress rehearsal, we won't take risks, these are initial ideas and we'll see." kata Sergej Barbarez, Pelatih Kepala Bosnia dan Herzegovina.

Penjualan tiket di Stadion Kosevo dilaporkan habis terjual, sebuah animo besar yang disebut pelatih sebagai buah dari kerja keras mengembalikan reputasi tim.

"Of course, we see this as a result of our work because people have recognized that this is genuine and that we are giving our all. For me, it means everything, not just a lot, but everything, when the stadium is full. Our biggest stadium, and I am truly looking forward to all of it tomorrow, before and after the match. We have all deserved this, we will enjoy it, and we will give our best to make the fans even happier." ujar Sergej Barbarez, Pelatih Kepala Bosnia dan Herzegovina.

Nakhoda timnas tersebut menyatakan komitmennya untuk mempertahankan integritas pemilihan pemain yang murni berlandaskan rasa bangga terhadap jersey negara.

"Barba was the same in 2024 and will always be the same. Barba believes in things, has a vision, and wants to have the right path and lead guys who are proud to wear this jersey, and that was the first condition for selection. We stick to that to this day, the quality is growing, which makes us happy. I can't wait to go to America, as if we're going on an excursion, I swear. I'm so excited, we're playing the World Cup, I'm happy beyond words." kata Sergej Barbarez, Pelatih Kepala Bosnia dan Herzegovina.

Berdasarkan jadwal yang dirilis Asosiasi Sepak Bola Bosnia, tim nasional dijadwalkan bertolak menuju St. Louis pada 2 Juni, sebelum melakoni laga uji coba terakhir melawan Panama empat hari berselang.